boomerang Hear it!

boomerang definition

boom·er·ang (bo̵̅o̅mər aŋ′)

noun

  1. a flat, curved stick that can be thrown so that it will return to a point near the thrower: it is used as a weapon by Australian Aborigines
  2. something that goes contrary to expectations and results in disadvantage or harm to the person doing or saying it

Etymology: < Austral native name

intransitive verb

to act as a boomerang; result in harm to the originator

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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